Antique 1646 Ferrari Botanical Lemon Citrus Engraving

Fine Antique Botanical Citrus Fruit Hand Colored Copper Plate Engraving from Giovanni Battista Ferrari’s - Hesperides sive de Malorum Aureorum Cultura et Usu Libri Quatuor - first published in 1646 in Rome. Giovanni Battista Ferrari (1584-1655) was an Italian Jesuit and professor in Rome, a botanist, and an author of illustrated botanical books. This work known as the "Citrus Encyclopedia" was the first book of it's kind on citrus fruit. It included studies of citrus fruits — lemons, oranges, limes, citrons - each tied with ribbons labeled with the name of the specimen. This is plate 77: Malum Citreum Multiforme. It measures approximately 9 1/4" x 13 1/2" and is in very good condition with light toning in the borders. Left border narrow / trimmed.